Huma 1/72 scale Dornier Wal seaplane - June 2014

In 1930, a Dornier Wal leaves the sea at Chile’s Base Aeronaval Quintero, about an hour’s drive north of Sergio’s hometown. Huma’s 1/72 scale seaplane is fitted with a new bow, rudder, engines and propellers, shorter wings, and relocated crew stations to more accurately portray the Italian-built version. Sergio painted the plane with Gunze Sangyo Mr. Metal aluminum over gloss black. “The Wal was legendary in Chile and opened routes to Patagonia,” he says. “The model was a lot of scratchbuilding, but a lot of fun.”